20
Dec 2011

GIMP 2.6 Review- Open Source Software

December 20, 2011 By 3 Comments

Image Manipulation Program: GIMP 2.6 Review

GIMP is a GNU image manipulation program similar to Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro. GNU means that the software is not owned by anyone, and can be freely distributed. Free in this sense means freedom, not necessarily free-of-charge, but it is available to be downloaded and used at no cost. This would seem to be the perfect solution for artists living on low-income who just need some cheap way to get their images online.

I have a client who wants to save images of his work so they can be ready to sell on Red Bubble. I’ve been using Photoshop for a few years but he doesn’t have it, or any other commercial image software, so I went looking for a free alternative for him.

And I found GIMP, a free program that does pretty much everything that Photoshop does – and can even work with the same file formats!

gimp-logo [Read more...]

Filed Under: Free-tools, Software Tagged With: , ,
24
Nov 2011

Thunderbird Email Review

November 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Thunderbird Email Review

While much of the world is transfixed by the Cloud, life as a desktop based email is still hugely popular with much of the community (including myself). There’s something that is reassuring about having access to all your emails on your personal computers without an internet connection. I discussed the Pros and Cons of the Cloud here.

For the most part if you had a PC, you ran Microsoft Office, but at around $200 Australian it isn’t cheap and really is not necessarily the ultimate email client anymore. It’s a great product but there is another Open Source program from the Mozilla organisation called Thunderbird. It’s a free program that really does everything a start-up, artist or small business might need.

Thunderbird Email Review:

Thunderbird’s awesome features:

  • The program is exceptionally responsive and seems to use less system resources (perfect if you’re a cash strapped artist using an old PC or a Netbook).
  • The Search Function is far superior to Outlook. You can separate your searches a lot easier so if you have a regular client where you’ve sent 300 emails back and forth over the previous 6 months it is quicker finding it in Thunderbird.
  • Calendar integration is a free add-on. Lightning is on par with Outlooks great Calendar. Download Lightning here. As you would expect the Calendar does everything you might require in a small business. You can tag events according to significance, whether its work, family, community and the length of the event.
  • Security is a big feature of Thunderbird

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Software Tagged With: , ,
18
Jul 2011

What is Cloud Computing?

July 18, 2011 By 4 Comments

What is Cloud Computing?

The Cloud

The term Cloud Computing is everywhere these days. Trains, buses, TV advertisements and newspapers.

But what is Cloud Computing?

Basically cloud computing is when you upload information to a central computer hosted by a software company via the internet and is password protected. This means you can access the information from anywhere with an internet connection. All you need is your username and password.

The most common forms of cloud computing have been Hotmail and Gmail- free email addresses that aren’t reliant on a local ISP.

Why is cloud computing more prevalent today?

Now that computer processing power and more importantly computer storage has grown exponentially it has become viable for smaller players to get involved in the cloud.

the-cloud-overview

8 Benefits of Cloud Computing:

  • You or your staff can access vital information from anywhere with an internet connection
  • Design Studios can work on projects together in real time.
  • You and your accountant can view your business accounts any time.
  • You can view invoices to and from clients anywhere.
  • It enables you to cut down on meetings, emails and phone calls
  • Everyone in the sales team knows conversations that have been had with clients.
  • Note taking and calendars can be shared between computers.
  • Generally speaking they are a subscription based model with many offering a free subscription for small accounts that begin to charge once you use the software more and more. [Read more...]
Filed Under: Business and Art, Software Tagged With: , ,
07
Jul 2011

MyOws Review

July 7, 2011 By 2 Comments

Myows Review- My Original Work

Protecting your Intellectual Property- Myows

As someone that works directly on and with designers, artists and writers I constantly hear horror stories about people having their graphic design work, artwork, written words or even a jingle copied or stolen.

Unfortunately most creative people can’t afford a lawyer (who can?!) and most aren’t aware of their legal rights in the first place. A case in point; a few days ago I sat next to a guy on the train that spent 6 hours working on a proposal at the request of a potential client only for them to say “thanks very much we’ll sleep on it” and then they took his ideas and proposal, modified it slightly and used it themselves without any payment or cudos to the guy I met on  the train.

Unethical- Yes

Illegal- Possibly?

Provable theft of copyright infringement- Not a chance!

That’s where Myows comes in.

myows-logo-copyright [Read more...]

Filed Under: Software Tagged With: , , ,
25
May 2011

Productivity Software

May 25, 2011 By 2 Comments

5 Awesome Free Productivity Software

Once you have organised your studio in the way you like there are many tools that will aid productivity. Some of my favourites are listed below.  These tools are all free for small usage and generally speaking will be enough for a small organization, however as you grow there are paid upgrades that are very affordable.

Productivity Software #1 – Drop Box

dropbox logo

Overview: Drop Box is a great way to share and store information in the cloud.  It runs on the same principals as Hotmail or Gmail. You set up an account with a password and upload the information into this account. You are then able to view those items on another computer with a password. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Software Tagged With: , ,
22
May 2011

A Great Safe Browsing Tool

May 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment

WOT- Web of Trust

A User Generated Safe Browsing Tool

It is a user generated add-on to your browser (Firefox, Internet Explorer etc.) that uses the simpliest of systems to warn about problem websites and websites that are deemed safe. A little green traffic light appears to the left of your URL when a website is registered safe, orange if it has mixed reviews and red if it’s a site to avoid. A question mark means there is not enough reviews to rate the site (suggesting the site is fairly new).

There are a few Ant-Virus scanners that rate websites based on security and potential virus threats. Why Web of Trust is different is that members rate each site (and leave comments) based on content and issues they might have had with a particular website.

As someone who has signed up to more mailing lists than I wish to remember, being warned about a particular website before you sign up to a mailing list is worth its weight in gold. Prior to using myWOT I signed up to a few seemingly reputable companies only to receive emails three times a day with no way on unsubscribing. Since using this tool on both Firefox and Internet Explorer I haven’t been in the same position.

There is some talk that WOT reviews can be manipulated as it is mainly based on user generated ratings and comments however I don’t really see this being any different from ways that anyone can leave comments on directory listings, eBay user ratings, and Blog like/ don’t like.

All can be manipulated if someone really wants to, yet overall I find most

User generated reviews over time sort the wheat from the chaff.

myWOT also rates sites on whether or not they contain adult content or are child friendly.

The system is so simple my grandfather and his mates now swear by it.

Download it from their website below (it’s free too!)

web-of-trust-logo

 

Filed Under: Software Tagged With: ,